Market Matters Blog

Yields for the 2024 U.S. corn crop were variable, but the harvest is still projected to be the third largest on record.

"Despite relatively moist weather conditions in April and May, the 2024 U.S. corn crop was planted at a pace similar to the average pace of the previous five crops," said the U.S. Grains Council in its 14th annual corn quality survey. "Warm temperatures persisted in June, but ample moisture prevented widespread stress. July brought cooler temperatures across many key areas of the Corn Belt and likely bolstered the yield potential of the crop. Weather conditions were exceptionally dry and warm after pollination, which promoted a timely dry-down and harvest of the crop."

According to the U.S. Grains Council's (USGC's) 2024/2025 Corn Harvest Quality Report published Dec. 9, 2024, the 2024 U.S. corn crop is projected to be the third largest on record with the highest 100-kernel weight in the history of the report, along with lower broken corn and foreign material (BCFM), lower total damage and lower moisture than in the last five years.

Spring planting was late for some, but overall, most farmers were pleased with the results. However, some farmers reported challenges from weather-related issues that affected their final yields. Here are some of the comments I collected from farmers in various states.

In northwest Illinois, Garrett Toay said the 2024 growing season was met with some challenges. "We had a wet spring this year, and in reality, only around a 10-day window to get crops planted in a timely matter. From March to June, we averaged 24 inches of rainfall versus only 9.7 inches the year prior. The growing season turned off more normal after June, but then the rains stopped in August. Bean yields were average for the most part. Corn yields were widely variable. I think beans had a lot of potential but the lack of moisture from August forward really hurt us."

"Corn potential was impacted by the wet spring but also depended on the variable soil types. Some yields were very, very good, some were a good 20-30 bushel per acre below APH (Actual Production History). It really depended on a field-by-field basis. We had a localized wind event in late July which fortunately didn't impact us, but it did impact some local friends who lost grain legs and had twisted corn this fall."

Toay added, "Looking ahead to 2025, the dryness this fall really prevented a wholesale level of fall NH3 to be applied. We eventually got some rains in October which allowed us to work stalks and get fall tillage done, but there's going to be a lot of spring applied N this year I think."

Nathan Vander Schaaf, Okaton, South Dakota, said, "Corn crop was poor due to hail and drought. Moved through harvest quickly without any breakdowns."

In Cloverdale, Ohio, Cody Etter said fall harvest was rapid with only one rain delay in early October. "Despite being in a D2 drought, corn yields held in fairly well, average to slightly below average. Soybeans were highly variable with some fields producing average yields, and others coming in at half of what you had hoped for."

"Corn test weights were exceptional, mostly 60 pounds up to 62 pounds. Quality was very good; a blessing compared to the previous few years' vomitoxin issues. Another blessing was good dry down, with corn coming off between mostly 15-19%."

Andy Buckwalter, Mantorville, Minnesota, said, "Here in southeast Minnesota, it's amazing how fast the crop came out. We started beans on Sept. 25 and finished corn on Oct. 24. We harvested every day. The wettest corn was around 19%, the driest was around 13.5%. Yield was about average, which was better than expected given we went from too wet early to too dry late."

"We finished up corn harvest in early November," said Ryan Wagner, Roslyn, South Dakota. "We were hoping for record yields and fell just short, but still can't complain as it was a very good crop considering the poor start, we got off to. Corn planted in the first planting window April 23-25, fared the best despite concerns over the cold rain it received just after planting. After that first window, we were out of the field 10 days, planted for two days, and then rained out again and out of the field for another 10 days, so it was a struggle to get it planted."

"This showed up in yields as anything not planted in the first two planting windows was lower yielding. The crop came off fairly dry and we ran about half of it through the dryer in the 18-19% range with the rest dry enough to go straight in the bin. Quality was excellent with good test weight."

In Sharon, North Dakota, Peter Ness said, "With above average temps in September and October, corn actually made maturity and was for the most part, dry and above average yield for me."

Darrin Schmidt, eastern North Dakota, said, "Corn harvest went well, with little to no rain and zero snow, along with above 30-degree Fahrenheit temps that really made a guy wish he grew more corn since it was easier than the alternative. We had a mixed amount of drown out from the spotty rains to the variability of the ground. Some fields were better for yield and some worse. Another problem we had was a reduced stand count due to the cold, long spring we had. It really looked like we would be dealing with immature corn in July, but we had a long fall that extended the growing season and a mature corn crop. It wasn't a yield breaker year, but it was a year that we can't complain about corn yields.

"Hell of a crop!", said Keith Brandt, general manager of Plains Grain and Agronomy LLC in Enderlin, North Dakota. "Bushels per acre, dry to nearly dry right out of the field, and the pace that the farmer harvested the crop made it such. I think most yields far surpassed any estimates. Hard to find anyone with farm averages under 200 bushels per acre (bpa), thus creating lots of piles on the ground at most elevators. Over 80% of our corn came off in October. The system is not built to handle that much volume that fast. Couple that with limited markets for corn and the exporters not wanting corn in October. Rail freight was tight and expensive."

Cale Carlson, Marquette, Nebraska, said, "Overall, this was one of the better harvests I can remember in the last few years here in south-central Nebraska. Irrigated corn yields were outstanding, especially with the supplemental rain we received this summer. Soybean yields were just average. The harvest pace was very fast, with over a month of dry, warm weather. Breakdowns were minimal. The crop dried down and came out quickly. Harvest logistics ran smoothly at the local ethanol plant, local co-op and my own grain storage facility. Having two boys back home farming really lifted the weight and pressure off of me in making decisions and running the show."

Carlson added, "We're looking forward to doing it all over again in 2025."

USGC added, "The 2024 crop, on average, is entering the market channel with characteristics that met or exceeded each grade factor's numerical requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade corn. The report also showed that 89.2% of the samples met all grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade, and 96.2% met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 2 grade corn."

See the USGC 2024/2025 Corn Harvest Quality Report: https://grains.org/…

Mary Kennedy can be reached at mary.kennedy@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @MaryCKenn

(c) Copyright 2024 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.